One friend Poem by Kirmen Uribe

Children's Song

There's a friend I hate.
Whenever I want to climb a tree
‘No, no, no, better not,' he says,
you'll slip and fall to the ground.

There's a friend I hate.
Whenever I want to play ball
‘No, no, no, better not,' he says,
‘they'll get a goal in right under your butt.'

There's a friend I hate.
When I go up to the girl I like
‘No, no, no, better not,' he says,
‘she won't want to be with you.'

There's a friend I hate.
When I want to kiss my little brother
‘No, no, no, better not,' he says,
‘he'll wake right up if you do.'

There's a friend I hate.
The name of this friend is Shame.
‘No, no, no, no way,' I tell him nightly,
‘come tomorrow, I will ignore you.'

Translated from the Basque by Elizabeth Macklin